Elizabeth walked down the stairs of her home. Jack was sleeping soundly in his room, and she had just gotten Allie settled into the guest room. Allie had been chattering a mile a minute in her excitement, but once her head hit the pillow she had fallen fast asleep. The girl had been through so much in the past few days, Elizabeth wasn't surprised she was so tired without realizing it.
She paused at the foot of the stairs. Nathan was sitting on the settee, his back to her. She studied him there for a moment, trying to get used to the idea of a man being in her house. Their house, she reminded herself. She hadn't even had to ask him. Moments after the wedding, he'd asked her if she would prefer to stay in her row house or move into his. She'd answered honestly that she would rather stay put, and Nathan had nodded his affirmation. "I'll start moving our things over tomorrow," he'd said.
There was so much they had to talk about. She knew it didn't have to all be tonight, but she did want to at least start the conversation. Taking a deep breath, she walked into the living room and sat next to him.
Nathan gave her a tentative smile and handed her a mug. "I made you some tea," he said. "It's been a long day, and I thought this might help."
She accepted the mug gratefully. "Thank you, Nathan. That was very thoughtful." She took a sip, enjoying the flavor. He'd made peppermint tea, her favorite. Cupping the mug in her hands, she peered at her new husband over the rim.
Her husband.
The concept was so strange to her, and probably would be for a long time. They were friends and had been for some time now, but there had always been a sort of tension between them. Whether it was a romantic tension or something else, Elizabeth wasn't sure. Now they were here, tethered together for the rest of their lives through the bonds of matrimony. It was almost too much for Elizabeth to process. So much had happened so quickly.
She took another sip of the tea, then lowered the mug to her lap. Looking at Nathan, she said, "So, what is this marriage of ours going to look like?"
"What do you want it to look like?" he asked, answering her question with a question.
"Honestly, Nathan, I don't know. I have hardly any experience being married, much less being married to someone under these circumstances."
"But you and Jack were married for some time, weren't you? You must have some idea of what it should be like."
Elizabeth shook her head. "Not really. We were only married for a few weeks before he was sent on his training assignment, and then he was gone. We lived together for two weeks in this house, then had a week for our honeymoon. That was all. We never got the chance to really figure out what married life looked like on a day to day basis." Tears formed in her eyes as she spoke. Though she had accepted Jack's death and was trying to move forward, sometimes the unfairness of it all still got to her. She had been cheated out of a life with the man she loved, and her son had been cheated out of knowing his father. The tears built, and though she tried to stop them, they fell from her eyes.
Nathan reached out, taking Elizabeth's hand in his, doing his best to convey comfort to her as she wiped the tears from her face. He ran his thumb over the ring on her right hand. "You still miss him." It was a statement, not a question.
She nodded. "Very much."
Nathan swallowed hard. "Elizabeth, I hope you know I have no intention of trying to replace Jack, in either your heart or little Jack's. I will be here for both of you in whatever way you need me to be, but I want you to know that I hope you continue to cherish his memory." He glanced at the table near the stairs, the one with her wedding pictures and various photos and mementos of Jack. "From everything I've heard, he was a good man who loved you very much."
"He was," she said, nodding. "And thank you for what you just said, Nathan." She wiped the tears from her eyes again, drawing comfort from the man next to her. He still had her hand in his, offering his strength in her sadness. She sniffed, then gave him a tremulous smile. "So, how do we do this? Live out this marriage?"
Nathan looked thoughtful, his thumb absently running over her fingers. Finally, he spoke. "I don't think we need to figure that out tonight, Elizabeth. I think we take this one day at a time and figure it out as we go. Just like most married couples do, though our circumstances are different than most. We can still take it day by day and learn the ins and outs through trial and error."
Elizabeth nodded. "I think that's a great idea." She gave a little sigh of relief. "I don't know why I thought we had to have it all figured out. You're right that everyone figures it out as they go."
Nathan smiled. "Each marriage is different, but one thing is the same: no one knows what they're doing at first. They learn together."
"Then I guess we'll learn together too."
He nodded, eyes locked on hers. For a moment, their eyes were only on each other. Elizabeth felt a tingling in her spine as his gaze lengthened, and she broke eye contact first. "Um, so I guess that's that," she said. "But I do think we need to figure out one thing tonight."
"What's that?" Nathan asked, his eyes still locked on her.
"The room situation," Elizabeth said a little shyly, embarrassed to even bring it up. "There are only three rooms in this house, and there are four of us."
"Right," Nathan said, realization dawning in his eyes. He looked at the settee. "I'm happy to sleep down here. This settee is much more comfortable than other places I've slept before."
"Nathan, you can't sleep on a settee for the rest of your life," Elizabeth said, practicality taking over. She thought through solutions, each one seeming impractical until she came to the last one. "What if…" She trailed off, wondering if it was a good idea.
Nathan waited patiently for her to finish thinking. Gathering up her courage, she started again. "My room is by far the largest one. What if we partitioned it to make two makeshift rooms? Then no one has to sleep on the settee."
Nathan looked hesitant. "You'd be comfortable doing that?" he asked.
Elizabeth nodded. "It would be like having two separate rooms. I don't think that would be a problem. It's the best solution."
"If you're sure," Nathan said slowly. "And if that wouldn't feel like an imposition on your privacy."
"It's fine, Nathan. I wouldn't have suggested it if I didn't feel comfortable with it."
"Okay," he agreed. "I can easily make a partition for the room. I can put that up tomorrow." He smiled. "But for tonight, I am sleeping down here."
Elizabeth laughed lightly. "Of course." She yawned, suddenly realizing how tired she was. Nathan squeezed her hand gently, then let it go.
"It's been a long day. Why don't you go get some rest?" He stood when she did. She was surprised when he leaned forward and kissed her cheek the same way he had at their wedding. "Goodnight, Elizabeth."
"Goodnight, Nathan," she said as she started climbing the stairs. Part way up she turned to look back at him. He was still watching her. He raised a hand as if waving farewell, a slight smile on his lips. With a little smile back, she finished her trek up the stairs and into her room. After changing into her nightgown, she collapsed onto the bed and fell into a deep sleep.
Nathan woke early, feeling rather cramped. The settee was a little too short for his tall stature. After his rounds this morning, he was going to work on getting some furniture over here. His bed, for starters.
He stood up and stretched. The house was quiet. It was still too early for anyone else to be awake, but Nathan was used to early mornings. He folded the blanket he'd used and placed it over the back of the settee. Walking to the pitcher and basin in the kitchen, he splashed some water on his face and dried it with a towel. Running a hand along his jaw, he realized he would need to bring his razor over too. He'd leave the overnight growth for today, but tomorrow it was back to clean-shaven.
Finished with his morning routine, Nathan looked around the kitchen. Now what? He didn't want to leave before saying good morning to Allie - and Elizabeth and Jack, he realized - but it could still be some time before they were up. He decided to make breakfast for his new family.
After familiarizing himself with the kitchen, he soon had a stack of pancakes and a plate of bacon on the table. He cracked some eggs into the pan he'd cooked the bacon in and began to stir. Within a few minutes, they were ready too. He placed a few towels over the food to keep it warm. A noise from upstairs caught his attention. It sounded like it was coming from Jack's room. He quietly climbed the stairs, opening the door.
Little Jack was standing in his crib, peering at Nathan over the railing. Nathan walked to the crib and picked him up. "Hey, buddy," he said. "How are you this morning?"
Solemn eyes looked back into his. "Mama?" Jack asked, looking a little confused.
"Your mama is still sleeping," Nathan told him. "Why don't I get you ready today?"
Jack blinked, then nodded. Nathan found some day clothes and got little Jack dressed. The boy was very cooperative, and in no time at all he was ready to go.
"I've got breakfast ready downstairs. Are you hungry?"
Jack nodded emphatically. Nathan smiled. "Alright, let's go." He carried Jack down the stairs and seated him in his highchair. He filled a plate with food and placed it in front of Jack. "Here you go," he said. Jack started eating the food with gusto.
He heard a noise on the stairs and turned. Elizabeth stood there with Allie, a robe wrapped loosely around her. She was wearing a sleepy smile watching Nathan interact with her son. "You made breakfast," she observed, coming into the kitchen. Allie gave Nathan a good morning hug and then sat down, serving herself some food.
"I did," Nathan said. "I hope that was alright."
Elizabeth smiled. "Of course it's alright. Thank you." He handed her a cup of coffee. She breathed in the smell and sighed. "Coffee is one of life's joys." Taking a sip, she sat down. "Thank you for the coffee as well."
"You're welcome," Nathan said as he sat next to Allie. As they were eating, Elizabeth noticed Jack's attire. "You got him dressed," she said, sounding surprised. Nathan nodded, chewing on some bacon. Elizabeth was watching him, an unreadable expression on her face. "Thank you, Nathan," she said again, seeming at loss for words. Nathan simply nodded.
Finished with his breakfast, he stood. "I need to get going on my rounds," he said. "My uniform is at the row house; I forgot to bring it with me, so I'll stop by there first and then go around the town. Is there anything you need before I go?"
Elizabeth still looked like she didn't know what to make of this morning. Nathan guessed she wasn't used to having help in the mornings before rushing to school. At least, he hoped that was the reason. If not, that meant she was flustered by his presence.
She shook her head in answer to his question. "I think we're all fine," she said. "I'm just going to get ready for school." She stood, and at that moment there was a knock on the door.
"Oh my," Elizabeth said, sounding flustered again. "Who could that be at this hour? Laura isn't supposed to be here for another twenty minutes."
"I'll get it," Nathan said without thinking. He opened the door, and there stood Florence. Her eyes widened exponentially at the sight of him, and she looked behind him to see Elizabeth, Allie, and Jack near the table. Her eyes trailed back to him, her brows shooting up her forehead. Instantly, Nathan realized what the situation looked like and what Florence must be thinking.
"Constable," Florence said, her tone civil but unapproving. "I didn't expect to see you here so early in the morning."
"This isn't what it looks like," Nathan began, at a loss for what to say next. Elizabeth came up behind him, her arms folded over her robe. Florence's mouth fell open. It seemed Nathan wasn't the only one at a loss for words.
"Why, I never…" she sputtered. "What is going on?"
"Come in, Florence," Elizabeth said gracefully. A shocked Florence followed her into the kitchen. Elizabeth motioned for her to sit. As she did, Allie smiled and said cheerfully, "Hi, Mrs. Blakely!"
"H...hi," Florence said. Allie scooted her chair back and headed for the stairs. "I'm going to get ready for school, Aunt Elizabeth," she said.
"Aunt Elizabeth?" Florence repeated. Her voice returned. "Elizabeth, what is going on?"
Elizabeth sat next to her, and Nathan took his place behind her chair for moral support. To say the situation was awkward would be an understatement.
"Nathan and I got married yesterday," Elizabeth said matter-of-factly.
"You...got married?" Florence looked between the two of them, looking for all the world like she couldn't believe it. "Why?"
"It's a long story," Elizabeth sighed. "It was mainly for Allie's sake. She was in danger of going back to her father, and we couldn't let that happen. For Nathan to keep her, he had to marry quickly. So we got married." She certainly gave the short version, for which Nathan was thankful. Florence, however, didn't seem satisfied with that answer.
"That's the only reason?" she asked, incredulous. "Elizabeth, you're telling me you married for the sake of convenience?" Her voice rose with each word.
"Yes," Elizabeth said calmly. Nathan admired how cool she was under pressure.
Florence sniffed in what seemed like disapproval. "Well, it seems like there could have been another way."
"There wasn't," Nathan said. "If there was, we would have taken that road."
"I suppose someone else will be teaching the children this week while you settle into your new...marriage?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "No, I'm planning on teaching this week."
"Well," Florence said, rising in what appeared to be a cloud of confusion. "This is all so strange, I don't mind telling you."
"Trust me, it is for us too," Nathan said. Florence eyed him, making him feel like an ant under a magnifying glass. He wondered if she believed their story.
"Well, I should be going," Florence said, heading for the door. "Oh!" she said, hand on the handle. "I forgot. I came over to tell you that Laura can't watch Jack today. She's sick at home."
"Oh," Elizabeth said, looking slightly pale. "What am I going to do?"
"I can take your class today," Rosemary said, coming through the door Florence had opened. "Hi, Florence."
"Rosemary, did you know…"
"Yes. I was at the wedding," Rosemary said, taking Florence by the arm. She smiled brightly at Nathan and Elizabeth. "If you don't mind, I'll take Florence to Dottie's and then I'll head to the school. Elizabeth, you can take the day to watch little Jack and settle in a bit more to your new situation."
Elizabeth's face showed relief. "Thank you, Rosemary," she said. Rosemary nodded, then guided Florence out of the house.
Nathan watched, feeling like he'd missed something. "What just happened?" he asked, bewildered.
"Rosemary came to our rescue," Elizabeth said with a smile. "These walls are rather thin, and she could probably hear Florence and decided we needed a distraction."
"That was nice of her," Nathan said.
Elizabeth nodded. "Rosemary is one of a kind, and she is a fiercely loyal friend." She picked up little Jack, who had toddled over to her. "I guess I get to spend time with this little guy today. We can take a trip to the mercantile to get some supplies for dinner." She must have noticed how flustered Nathan felt, because she put a hand on his arm. "Don't worry about Florence," she said. "We told her the truth, and that's all that matters."
He smiled grimly. "You know this means that the whole town is going to know by this afternoon?"
She nodded. "I know. We'd better brace ourselves for lots of questions."
"And disapproval."
"True," Elizabeth agreed. She looked at him, maintaining eye contact the whole time. "We did the right thing, Nathan. No matter what anyone else thinks, we did the right thing."
"I know," he said heavily. "But I hate that your reputation may be on the line. Did you see Florence's face when I opened the door? She thought we..."
"Don't worry about me," Elizabeth interrupted. "We'll get through this. Together."
He looked at her for a few seconds, then nodded slowly. "Together."
Elizabeth walked through the mercantile, placing various items in her basket. Little Jack was playing with Fiona by the telephone. So far no one at the mercantile had approached her. She assumed they hadn't heard the news about her surprisingly sudden marriage. No doubt that would change before too long. If Florence knew, everyone would know soon. Nathan was right about that.
Nathan.
He'd been on her mind all day. Considering their circumstances, it didn't surprise her. What did surprise her was how caring and thoughtful he was. She'd known he was a good man, and she'd known he liked her, but she had no idea he could be so thoughtful. She supposed the fact that he'd made her a plaque with a quote from her favorite author should have given her an idea. That was such a thoughtful gift. But she'd never expected that on their first morning as a makeshift family he would have taken care of her son and made sure there was food on the table when everyone woke up. That was never part of the agreement. But he did it anyways.
There was a lot more to Nathan Grant than she thought, and if she was honest with herself, she was looking forward to getting to know him better. If nothing else, she knew they would become good friends. Friends who happened to share their lives together.
Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice Lucas standing right in front of her until she almost ran into him. "Oh!" she cried, coming to a halt. "Lucas, I'm so sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going."
"That's alright," he said, charming as ever. "No harm, no foul."
Elizabeth smiled, then headed for the counter. "Well, I need to get these items…"
"Wait, Elizabeth," Lucas said. "I want to ask you something."
She turned to face him. "Yes?"
As he was about to speak, the door opened and Nathan walked in. She hadn't seen him since he left for his rounds. He was dressed in his uniform, and his gaze landed on Elizabeth. His eyes lit up when he saw her, then darkened when he noticed Lucas standing in front of her.
Lucas ignored him and said, "I was wondering if maybe we could have that dinner we talked about. This evening." As he said it he looked sidelong at Nathan. Elizabeth got the impression that he was sending a message. She also got the impression that Nathan didn't like that one bit. He came right up to them, standing with arms crossed next to Elizabeth, staring Lucas down. Lucas looked a bit surprised at Nathan's uncharacteristic boldness with regards to Elizabeth. Elizabeth felt a little surprised herself. Nathan usually walked away when he saw the two of them talking together. But then again, circumstances had changed. Lucas didn't know they were married.
"I don't think that's a good idea, Lucas," Elizabeth said, trying to turn him down gently. The looks between the two men were starting to make her feel uncomfortable. She didn't know exactly why they didn't like each other, but she had a feeling it had something to do with her. If looks could kill, they would both be six feet under right now.
"Why not?" Lucas asked, his eyes challenging not her but Nathan. Elizabeth sighed inwardly, but Nathan reacted before she could.
He put a hand on her back, his eyes shooting darts at Lucas. "Because she's married to me," he said, steel in his voice.
Lucas blinked, shock covering his face. Ned Yost swiveled around from the counter, staring at them. Fiona came out of the telephone room holding Jack, mouth hanging open. The few other people in the store froze where they were, all staring at Elizabeth and Nathan.
And now they know, Elizabeth thought. Part of her was relieved and part of her began bracing for the storm of reactions they would be facing for the foreseeable future. Starting with Lucas.
"You're joking," he said, looking between the two of them in disbelief. "Elizabeth, you're telling me you up and married someone suddenly, without anyone knowing?" She noticed he didn't say Nathan's name.
"Well, a few people knew," she said. "But yes. That's what happened."
"Why?" Lucas asked, looking more flustered than Elizabeth could ever remember seeing him. Even when they'd been held up in the saloon at gunpoint he'd been more composed than this. If the situation hadn't been so serious, she might have found his current expression comical.
"It's a long story," Elizabeth said, glancing around the mercantile.
"It was for Allie," Nathan said. "Elizabeth offered to marry me so that Allie could stay with us in Hope Valley. That's the short version."
"And the long version?" Lucas asked, his composure gradually returning.
"That's private," was all Nathan would say. Lucas looked at Elizabeth, but she simply nodded in affirmation of Nathan's response.
Ned broke the tension. "Well, I suppose congratulations are in order," he said. "Your groceries are on the house."
"Oh, no Ned!" Elizabeth protested. "That's kind of you, but…"
"No buts," he responded. "It's my little way of helping you two and the kids settle in."
"Thanks, Ned," Nathan said. He walked up to the counter. "Do you have any letters for me today?"
"Yes, just a moment." Ned pulled a couple of official letters from Nathan's box. "Looks like some usual mail from Mountie offices."
"Thanks." Nathan turned to Elizabeth. "I have to get back to the office, but I'll see you in a couple of hours."
"Okay," Elizabeth responded as Ned packaged up her groceries.
Fiona brought Jack over and handed him to Elizabeth. "Congratulations," she said with a soft smile, putting a hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "I know there's probably a lot to this story, but I get the feeling you did something very sacrificial for Nathan and Allie. If you need anything, please let me know."
"Thanks, Fiona," Elizabeth said with a smile. "I appreciate that."
Fiona nodded and walked back to her station. Lucas was still standing there, and he followed Elizabeth out of the mercantile. "Do you realize what you've done?" he asked as she walked down the stairs, looking concerned. "How could you marry a man you barely know, even if it is for the sake of a child?"
She looked up at him, recognizing the hurt under the anger and concern. "Lucas, I do know what I've done. I didn't go into this blindly. I gave it a lot of thought and prayer. It felt like the right thing to do."
"How could any man of integrity ask a woman to marry him for convenience? Nathan shouldn't have…"
Elizabeth cut him off. "It wasn't Nathan's idea," she said firmly. "He even tried to talk me out of it. I offered. This was my choice, and I don't regret it."
Lucas shook his head. "You're going to regret it eventually," he said. "A woman like you tied to a man you don't love? That's not fair to you."
"I like Nathan, Lucas. I may not love him, but I respect and admire him. I think we are going to be just fine. But thank you for your concern." She took a few steps down the street, then stopped and looked back, adjusting Jack on her hip. "Nathan is a good man, Lucas. I know the two of you don't get along, but I wish you would at least try."
Lucas gave a short laugh. "Not likely, but I'll take that under advisement."
"Good." Elizabeth smiled. "Who knows, maybe one day we'll all look back on this moment and laugh at how silly it was that we couldn't get along."
Now Lucas gave a real laugh. "Keep dreaming, Elizabeth. Keep dreaming."
